I am currently trying to figure out what the prefered console would be to run on.

I tried to find example videos with load times of Oklahoma and came to these findings:

1. Xbox (NTSC) ~4s (faster than xbox360)
2. Xbox360 (NTSC) ~4s
3. Wii ?? probably faster than GCN
4. Gamecube (NTSC) ~12s
5. PS2 ~12-15s
6. PS3 ?? probably slower
7. Dolphin (NTSC) ~22s
8. PCSX2 is out since it runs the game above fullspeed

To keep the game as accessible as possible, its best to not allow modifications that go past the original hardware. Softmodding is often allowed as it allows for region unlocks. In that sense the Xbox that already has a built-in HDD can play games from them, which possibly lowers the load times even further.

Tho loading times are not everything. I have the feeling that the dolphin emulator has some quirks that are hopefully not found on consoles (e.g. dropping inputs and such). Also I currently don't know if the NTSC version on PS2 runs at 60fps or 30fps.

If anyone has information, opinions or whatever. Feel free to share it

Greetings,

I’m wondering when we start and stop the timer, specifically for Levels and for All Objectives + Fight.

Levels: Does the timer start on the first in-game frame (not the menu) of the Amateur Challenges and end upon completing the last Pro objective? It’s probably a good idea to require either "Mastered the Level" (via Restart) or "All Completed Pro Challenges" (showing the objective list) in the video, but these shouldn’t be part of the timed segment.

All Objectives + Fight: I strongly suggest stopping the timer when the post-boss cutscene begins. I’ve tested extensively and don’t believe there’s any way to interact during that cutscene. Most games exclude the final cutscenes from timing since exiting the game would skip them anyway, making their inclusion kinda irrelevant.

One is faster with increased difficulty.

Upon winning Arcade Mode, one can go again on higher diff., a certain amount of money is kept for the next run, and one can upgrade one's kart before starting the run. Moreover, when beating it on hardest, one keeps even the upgrades during the previous run.

I think this is the intended way to beat the harder difficulties. I don't think it's possible to make it through Germany on hardest diff. without any upgrades.

My question now: should this even be allowed? Since the setup for a run becomes a great hassle (beat game on easy -> normal -> hard -> (repeatedly beat hard until all upgrades unlocked and enough money to buy boosts) -> start run.